Steam-plow



(No Model.) s Sheets-Sheet 1.

J, A. NEWSOM;

STEAM PLOW.

Patented Jan. 15,

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6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J, Q. A. NEWSOM. STEAM PLOW.

No. 396,170. Pat ented Jan. 15, 1889.

mu my. Washingtm n a (No Mod eL) 6 Sheets-Sheet a.

J, A. NEWSOM.

STEAM PLOW.

Nd. 396.170. *Paten't'edJan. 15, 1889.

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N. PETERS. MW WW Uku- (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 J, Q. A. NEWSOM.

STEAM PLOW. No. 396,170. Patented Ja1 1.: 15,1 889.

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STE-AM PLOW.

Patented Jan..1 5,

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, J, Q.'A. VNEWSOM.

STEAM PLOW.

No. 396,170 Patented Jan. 15, 1889.

w: .mmmul U ITED STATES PATENT EEIcE.

J OIIN Q. A. NEIVSOM, OF SEYMOUR, INDIANA.

STEAM-PLOW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,170, dated January 15, 1889.

Application filed February 9, 1886. Serial No. 191,306. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, JOHN Q. A. NEWSOM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seymour, in the county of Jackson, State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Flows, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to rotary plows driven by power transmitted from a steam tractionengine mounted on the plow-frame and havin g a revolving plow-shaft on which is mounted acontinnous series of spiral cutting-blades, which enter the ground at an angle to theline of draft, cut away the ground for a space equal to the width of the plow and deposit it in parallel ridges extending obliquely to the direction of movement or line of draft, and thus thoroughly pulverize and separate the soil, so as to permit the air to permeate it and prevent a too sudden drying.

Myinvention consists, partly, in a combined plow and traction-engine mounted upon a common rigid frame and adapted to be guided by a steering device located at the rearof the plow.

It consists, further, in suspending from the frame which supports the traction-engine a plow-shaft carrying a series of spiral cutters and placed obliquely to the line of draft and adjustable thereto at any desired angle for all kinds of work; further, in the. means employed for adjusting the plow-shaft horizontally obliquely-to the line of draft and vertically toward and from the ground; further, in the means employed for throwing the weight of the plow upon the rear trailing wheel, having a horizontal n'iovement, and using this wheel as a fulcrum for guiding the entire device; further, in the peculiar means for counteracting side draft when the plows are not revolving or are retarded in their revolution; fi'u'ther, in the means for guiding the cable or chain for transmitting power to the plow shaft and adjusting it to different sizes of pulleys used in gearing to different speeds; further, in the peculiar automatic cleaners or deflectors for the plow-disks, and, finally, in details ofconstruction throughout the machine, all fully hereinafter described.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of the plow and engine. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe same.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the main shaft and a portion of the frame. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal section of the main shaft, showing the attachment of the plow-blades. view of the guide or furrow wheel and its supporting and operating devices. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the main shaft and spiral blades, the latter being shown partly in section in connection with a series of automatic scrapers or deflectors. Fig. Sis a transverse sectional view on the line X X of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the cleaning device. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the power-adjusting device. Fig. 11 is a front elevation of the yoke of the power-adjustment. Fig. 12 is an elevation of one of the adjusting-arms and its securing-nuts.

The machine illustrated in these drawings is composed of a rigid frame-work, on which are mounted the fire-box and boiler of a traction-engine having traction-wheels, which transmit motion to a plow-shaft suspended from the frame obliquely to the line of. draft andcapable of adjustment in order to change the width of the furrow cut by each spiral section on such shaft, and consequently the width of the'strip cut by the entire series of blades. The engine and plow being mounted on a single frame, provision is made for steering the machine in turning corners by a mov- Fig. 5 is a plan able trailing furrow-wheel, which may be I made to exert sufficient leverage, when only one of the traction-wheels becomes a driver, to turn the plow in the proper direction in going around the field.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A A represent the tractionvheels of an engine, which are mounted on journals of an axle, B. As the frame which supports the engine andplow is rigid and the steering is accomplished from the rear of the plow-fran-ie, it is necessary in order to facilitate the steering to provide means for running either of the tractionwheels loose or fast on the axle, so as to make either a driving-wheel at will. These means may be any ordinary style of clutch thrown into and out of engagement with the axle or sleeve, and are not shown, as their construe tion is common and well known.

C represents the draft-bar, which is a curved beam extending from the rear of the plow and bent down behind the boiler D, where it is forked or bifurcated to form two arms,] 1, which are hinged to the axle, as shown in Fig. The boilerD and fire-box are supported upon this frame by being bolted thereto, so that the bottom of the tire-box is brought below the frame-work.

The plow-frame is suspent'led from the elevated portion of the draft-bar. It is composed of a transverse bolster, E, to the ends of which are secured angle-bars 2 2, bolted to extensions of the boxes F, in which the main plow-shaft turns.

To extensions I} :l of the boxes F is bolted an angular bar, G, which thus forms a portion of the frame. The frame is connected to the draft-bar by a scre\\'-rocl, l, which works through a ball-and-socket joint, 5, in the bolster E and engages with a threaded opening in the draft-bar. By means of a handwheel, (3, on the screw 4; the draft-bar may be raised or lowered with relation to the bolster, so as to level the engine-boiler when the plow is in any position,and thus adjustment takes place without in any way affecting the move ment of the bolster and frame on its central pivot.

The plow-frame and main shaft are set at an angle to the line of draft, as shown in Fig. .3, and this angle may be varied, according to the width of cut required, by turni n the frame by hand on the ball-and-socket joint, the range of adjustment being ordinarily about thirty degrees. The frame is held in position at any angle by means of a segment, lI, Fig. 2, the ends of which are bolted to the bolster, the curve of the segment being struck from the screw-rod l as a center. Holes (3 are formed in the draft-bar and holes 7 in the segment, with which engages a pin or bolt, H, dotted lines, Fig. 2. The holes ti, besides being used to lock the frame in position, also permit of its longitudinal adj ustment on the draft-bar, another set of holes, 0, correspmnling thereto, being of course formed near the rear end of such bar.

Mounted upon the main shaft is a series of spi' 'al plows or cutting-blades, I. These blades are made from iron or other suitable material bent into spiral shape, so that when placed upon the shaft their ends will abut or overlap and a continiuiuis spiral cutter be formed, the separate sections of which will enter the ground at an angle to the line of draft.

Each section is provided with a spiral hub or flange, 10, which fits the cylindrical contour of the shaft and is bolted thereto, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. That portion of the blades extending radially from the flanges, instead of being concave-convex, as shown in my application for Letters Patent filed March 30, 1885, Serial No. 160,726, is straight in profile or cross-section, though of spiral form, as clearly shown in the figures last named. At the edge of each section of the spiral blade is secured a hardened steel or chilled share, 1.1, in which is formed a groove and shoulder, .12, against which bears the spiral edge of the blade, made convex to fit the share, and to which it is bolted. These shares are coneavoconvex in shape, their convex portion forming a rounded edge to the blade and being prae tic-ally a curved landside. The combined series of cutters when in operation make a wide cut of equal depth; butthe earth eutby each section is carried up by the spiral action of the blades and falls or is thrown into a fur- :row or ridge extending obliquely to the line of draft and parallel to similar ridges or furrows made by the other sections of the series. A space is thus left uncut beyond the last cutter, and at this point is secured to the framework an ordinary beam-plow, 13, which cuts a straight furrow in the line of draft, which intersects the oblique furrows made by the spiral blades or sections.

The sections of the spiral blades can, of course, be disconnected from each other and from the shaft, and any one of The hardened shares may be removed from its support ingbla-de and sharpened or replaced by another, as may be desired.

Power is applied to the traction-wheel di rectly from the crank-wheel of the engine, as shown in Fig. 1. Upon the end of the axle B is keyed a pulley, ll, which conveys the power to a pulley, .15, on the plow shaft through a sprocket-chain or a wire cable, 143, as shown in the drawin The relative speed of the traction-pulley and plmv-shaft is of course dependent upon the relative sizes of the pulleys, and the plow-shaft may be made to revolve at a greatmor less rate of speed by gearing up or down, respectively, as will be readily understood. The cable or chain it; passes over a pair of revolving guide-pulleys, l 7, mounted on a pin, its, and passes straight from the traction-pulley to the uide-pulle v. It is there turned at an angle to operate the oblique plow-shaft, and as this angle is varied by the horizontal adjustment of the plowframe the guidepulleys 17 are made longitudinall y adjustable in a slotted b racket, 1.9. Thus, if the plow-frame and shaft are swung :from an angle of thirty to one of twenty-five degrees to the line of draft, the pin 18 would be moved forward in the slotted bracket, changing the direction of the cable to correspond to the new position of the plow-shaft pulley. Conversely, when the angle of the shaft is increased to one of, say, thirty-five degrees, the pin and guide-pulleys are moved farther to the rear, the length of the slot corresponding to the extreme range of movement of the plowframe. In geariugthe plow-shaft to run at different speeds, as before mentioned, the sizes of pulleys on the tractionshaft and phiw-shaft will be changed relatively to one another. This change necessitates an adjustment in the direction of the driving chain or cable to correspond, and the method of such adjustment is illustrated in TIO detail in Fig. 11, which shows a side elevation of the slotted-bracket 19. This bracket is secured adj ustably by means of a slotted extension, 20, and bolt 21 to the bar G, which forms a portion of the frame supporting theplowshaft, and the object of this adjustment is to permit the bracket to be moved sufficiently to keep the cable or chain in line with the guide pulleys. The slotted portion of the bracket consists of two parts, 22, which are adjustable in slots on the curved head 23 of the extension 20. As it is necessary for these parts 22 to have a slight rotary motion in order to place theguide-pulley in position to receive the rope from the traction-pulley, and also to be locked imlnovably in any position to which they are adjusted, I attach them in the slots of the head 23 by means of washers 24, having radial teeth 25, and I form correspondinggrooves on the end of arms 22 22, which pass through the slots and are secured by a square-headed bolt, 27, recessed in such slots, as shown.

It is clear that when the pulley on the axle of the traction-engine is enlarged the arms 22 must be spread accordingly to bring the cable in line with the guide-wheels, and the converse is also true, that these arms should be brought nearer together when the size of the pulley on the plow-shaft is increased in gearing the plow-shaft down.

The steering or guiding of the entire machine in transportation or in turning corners is effected, as before mentioned, by a steering device located at the rear and operating in connection with the traction-wheels, which, as stated, may bedisconnected from the axle to run loosely thereon when necessary. This device also forms the means for raising and lowering the plow-blades, and its construction will now be described, reference being made to Figs. 5 and (1'.

J is a hanger or frame curved or bent so as to pass over the bolster E and carrying at its rear a trailing furrow-wheel, K, journaled in bearings in the forks 23. In similar forks in the front part of the hanger is journaled a leading cutter or disk, L, adapted to enter the ground when the furrow-wheel is elevated and the plow lowered into the ground. The frame J is journaled on trunnions 29, forming part of a disk, 30, secured to a stationary vertical pin, 31.

On the lower end of the pin Ill is a. disk, 32, which is fixed in a recess in the bolster E. The hanger J can thus turn on the trunnions, while at the same time it can also turn horizontally on the pin 3i. This rotary movement is given to the hanger by means of a worm, 33, gearing into a disk, 34, rotating freely on the pin 31 and operated by a handwheel, 35, placed within reach of the operator. This movement of the hanger is required in order to bring it substantially into the line of draft when the angle of the main plowshaft is changed, as before described; or it may be set at a slight angle to the line of draft to enable the leading cutter L to counteract any tendency to side draft when the plow is cutting, but not revolving or revolving slowly, it being true that the side draft increases as the revolution of the plow is retarded, The movement of the plow-frame required to raise the blades from the ground in transporting the plow from'place to place and in turning corners is accomplished by means of a screw, M, which works loosely through a threaded lug, 36, on the disk 34. The lower end of the screw turns freely in a roller, 37, having trunnions 3S journaled in the hanger J. %y turning the screw M down through the threaded lug the bolster and main shaft and, the forward end of the hanger will be raised, the wheel K acting as a fulcrum and the weight of the plow being thrown 011 such wheel. In this position the wheel 35 may be turned in either direction, causing the furrow-wheel tooperate as a rudder, thus facilitating the guiding of the engine.

I have devised an automatic device operated continuously by the revolution of the spiral blades, which act not only to keep the blades clean and free from any part of the soil which may adhere to them, but also serves as a deflector for each spiral section to pre-- vent the soil carried up by the spiral action from being thrown too far forward or over the shaft. This device consists in a moving series of piw'oted scrapers carried by an endless chain, which engage with. the plow-blades and are moved'by its spiral action in the manner of a worm-gear, all as shown in Fig. 7. A track, N O, is mounted on the bolster E, and two sprocket-wheels, 39, are journaled in standards on the bolster. An endless chain, 40, passes over these wheels, to which is pivoted a series of scrapers, l1, each composed of two adjustable arms, +2,a hanger, 43, and a pulley, ii, the hanger being pivoted to the chain. The scrapers 42 are curved to conform to the shape of both sides of the blades, and embrace such blades in such a way that their spiral action will cause the endless chain to travel around the sprocket-w heels. The arms 42 are adjustable on their pivots, and maybe locked in position by a jam-nut or other device to conform, to the shape of the blades. \Vhen a scraper leaves the end of the last spiral section, its pulley bears upon the end of the track 0, so that it is lifted to the position shown in the upper part of the figure, and in that position it is carried along until it reaches the other end of the track, when it- 'fallsby gravity, and is retarded an instant by a spring, 45, until the sharp end of the first cutter engages with it, the operation being continuous and automatic as lon as the plow continues its revolution.

In orderto support the end of the bolster and plow-shaft opposite the furrow-wheel and prevent the strain from coming upon the power- IIO cable and pulleys, I may use an ordinary trailing caster-wheel vertically adjustable in a supporting-standard 011 the bolster, which,

will z'iecommmlate itseltT automatically to the line of draft; or Lmay use the device illustrated in Fig. .l, where a wheel. is journaled in forks of a hanger, which may be the coun terpart ot the rear portion ot the hanger .I, previously described. The lateral and vertical adjustment of this wheel would in this case be positive instead of automatic through a screw, l i, working in a threaded lug, l7, of a disk, t9, which disk is operated by a worm, it). The adjustment of this wheel, as will be readily understood, should correspond substantially to that of wheel K, and the operation of the devices for accomplishing such adjustment. has been fully described in relation to that part of the device.

It should be mentioned as a matter of impi'lrt'ance in land cultivation with traction-engines that where a spiral-cutting blade or series of blades is used they assist by thein movement in the ground in the PIOPUlHlOllOf i the machine. It the traction -whee1s slip without taking hold of the ground, the continued revolution of the driving-pulleys and the plow will cause the latter to act traction'wheels to a certain extent, which will set the machine ahead, and thus assist the main wheels in securing a better hold on the ground.

Having fully described my in vemtionnvhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A combined plow and traction-engine mounted upon a rigid Frame and having a pair of non-swiveling supporting-wheels :t'orward,a steering device located at the rear, consisting of a journaled curved or bent t'rame carrying a t'urrow-whecl at its rear end and a cutting-disk at the front end, and a hand-wheel having a horizontal shat't provided with a worm meshing with a sectorgearing connected to the steering-wheel and adapted to positively adjust said steeringwheel, substantially as described.

The combination, with the adjustable plow-shaft, of a series of spiral cutting-blades secured thereto and to each other, so as to form a continuous spiral cutter, the main part of such blades being formed on straight ra dial lines and its peri iheral section being of concavo-convex torm, substantially as described.

3. A spiral eutting-blade for attachment to a rotary plow-shalt, having its main portion formed on straight radial lines from its pointof attachment to the shaft and its peripheral section of eoncave-convex t'orm, substantially as described.

at. The combinzltion, with arevolving plowshat't obliquely adjustable to the line ofdrai't and supporting a series of spiral cutters adapted to form oblique ridges or turrows, of an auxiliary plow working in the line otdrai't and cutting a straight furrow intersecting the oblique t u rrows madeby the spiral blades, and thus completing the cut, substantially as described. i

The (?()1Ill)llliti;l01l, with the draft-bar C, connected to the axle of the traction-wheels, of the bolster E, the screw 4:, and the universal joint 5, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the bolster E and the plow-shaft suspcn dcd therefrom, the. draftbar 0, and the universal joint 5 between the tll'tli t llitl and bolster, of the segment ll, bolted to the bolster and adjustable on the draft-bar, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the bolster E, of the adjustable hanger J, carrying the journa led trailing-wheel Ii at one end and the leading cutter-wheel L at the other, substantially as described.

8. The col'nbination of the bolster E, the hanger J, the disk 32 and pin 231, the disk ill, the worm 33, and haml-wheel -35, substantially as described.

9. The combination olf the bolster E and plow-shaft, the hanger J, the screw M, and threaded lug 3G, substz'uitially as described.

10. The combination, with the tractionwheels and pulley 14-, the suspended adjustable plow-shaft having the pulley l5, and the cable or chain :10, ot' guide-pulleys interposed between pulleys '14- and '15 and means For adjusting such guidc-jnilleys relatively to the horizontal adjustment ot the plow-shaft, substantially as described.

ll. The emnbination, with the tractionwheels and axle and the adjustable plow shaft, of the chain or cable for transmitting power to the plow-sln'ilt and the adjustable bracket. 1H, carrying guidepulle vs, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with the adjustable j'ilow-trame, ot' the adj ustable bracket '1 ti, having iinlepeinlentIy-adjustable arms :32 and carrying guide-pullevs, substantially as dc scribed.

13. The comlgiination, with the revolving plow-shalt supporting a series of spiral eutting-b' lades, ot' a series of traveling scrapers operated by the revolution ot' said blades, subst antial l y as described.

ll. The combination, with the revolving plow-shaftsnpporting a series of spiral cutting-blades, of an endless chain carrying a series of .t'orkcd scrapers and operated by the revolution of said blades, substantially as de scribed.

15. The combimition, with the revolving phiw-shat't supporting a series of spiral entting-blades, of an endless chain, a series of t'orked adjustable scrapers pivoted to the chain guide-wheels on the scrapers, and a track for supporting the guide-wheels, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I att'ix mysignat' ure in presence ol two witnesses.

JOHN Q. A. NIHVSOM.

\V itnesses:

CHARLES HYER, L. SEWARD BACON. 

